REAL MAN TRUCKWORKS & SURVIVAL

FOOD CORNER => Farming, Gardening, and Raising Your Own Food => Topic started by: Higher Caliber on February 02, 2018, 09:56:24 PM

Title: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 02, 2018, 09:56:24 PM
Setting up something like this-
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180203/208f45ae8bf26f746fe19d6924526c97.jpg)

Worked on it about 2 hours tonight.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180203/3c2f29b9e38864c972abdfff673fac0e.jpg)

Total of about 256 ft2 of garden area.


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on February 02, 2018, 10:06:27 PM
awesome Blaine.  How deep are the raised beds going to be?

One suggestion is to send some soil samples to the local ag extension.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 03, 2018, 11:52:00 AM
At the lowest point 24” deep. Soil will be a mixture of mushroom compost, organic grass fed donkey poop and top soil from the river plain. This “wise man” built his house upon a rock. I have to truck soil in! Lol


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Bob Smith on February 03, 2018, 12:15:19 PM
Sounds like a good soil blend for growing. Is the river soil and donkey droppings processed or will you be fighting lots of unwanted growth the first couple years?
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Wilbur on February 03, 2018, 01:23:00 PM
Looks good! I'm sure it will produce a lot for you. I agree with testing the soil but it might make sense to wait to see how the soil breaks down and then see what nutrients are lacking.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on February 03, 2018, 03:10:21 PM
Use that mushroom compost judiciously.  I used too much and have an over abundance of phosphorous.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 03, 2018, 06:03:48 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180203/cd572bf677685a0befec0467f85d0340.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180203/7e7d0671cdd410264c62d4a81f0df23a.jpg)
Relatively level! How about that!?
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180203/4b8c2e307f2e9e29778d3aabbcf7019e.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180203/b7e56e38fb89b98397dc88ee92eb670f.jpg)
So I started off the day with the wife helping out. She has absolutely zero patience for my pursuit to make the top rail perfectly level. I ended up having to lower it quite a bit, otherwise the low side was too high to work with. That really threw off my materials purchased. After the third comment from the 1/2 about it not needing to be perfectly level, just “even” I snapped back with a, “I think your socialist aunts are rubbing off on you”... (they are all Irish)

I ended up finishing the day by myself. Worked about 4 hours today.

The donkey poop is from my pasture. We have a donkey who conveniently relieves himself in one spot, right in front of the gate! This is the first foray into gardening, so any tips are appreciated!


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: stlaser on February 03, 2018, 07:10:16 PM
Gardens, my wife helped with planting & picking everything in between she was nowhere to be found....
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Bob Smith on February 03, 2018, 07:41:02 PM
Sounds like you are mixing your own blend for the growing medium. Do some reading and studying for the right mixture for the best results. You will probably have lots of weed seed from the river silt and the donkey droppings. No really good  way for weed control other than herbicides or continues weeding, so for a few years just stay on top of the weeds and all should work out OK. Some of the top soil places use extreme heat to kill the weed seed, try to keep on top of them and all should be good.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Farmer Jon on February 04, 2018, 08:39:25 AM
I started raised beds a couple years ago. Ive added more as the years go on. I used old hog feeders I took apart. tractor tire and concrete cattle feed bunks. I filled them with the tractor but they settled a lot the first couple years. Be prepared to add more soil next year.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 05, 2018, 12:00:37 PM
Interested!

So B- tell me about the lumber? Straight up PT Pine or something else

and

Can one use PT timber without the veggies picking up some of the chems pushed into the wood itself?
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: stlaser on February 05, 2018, 03:31:12 PM
Interested!

So B- tell me about the lumber? Straight up PT Pine or something else

and

Can one use PT timber without the veggies picking up some of the chems pushed into the wood itself?

We used heavy plastic sheeting inside the PT lumber & stone on the bottom for good drainage.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 05, 2018, 07:27:50 PM
OK
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Wilbur on February 05, 2018, 08:19:07 PM
There's been a fair amount of study on it and it appears that the new ones are okay. The old PT seems safe too but I can see using the newer stuff to be safe.

http://www.finegardening.com/article/are-pressure-treated-woods-safe-in-garden-beds

https://extension.psu.edu/environmental-soil-issues-garden-use-of-treated-lumber

Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 05, 2018, 08:53:03 PM
Thanks!

I saw that and realized I can just saw up some real-2" cedar planks and do it with them.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Bigdave_185 on February 05, 2018, 10:58:12 PM
Thanks!

I saw that and realized I can just saw up some real-2" cedar planks and do it with them.
Might as well just use that fancy wood mill right?


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Title: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 05, 2018, 11:36:01 PM
Its made out of untreated fir. going to be lined in cedar on the inside. The only PT are the posts. We are going to treat it with danish oil probably.


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 06, 2018, 12:12:29 PM
Thanks!

I saw that and realized I can just saw up some real-2" cedar planks and do it with them.
Might as well just use that fancy wood mill right?


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Yessir!
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 06, 2018, 12:14:05 PM
Its made out of untreated fir. going to be lined in cedar on the inside. The only PT are the posts. We are going to treat it with danish oil probably.


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Interesting

I thought for about a minute of the PT pine, then I remembered i had a stack of logs sittin' beside a sawmill I own.

Self correcting problem, and I'd so like to build a raised garden.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 07, 2018, 01:07:26 AM
Its made out of untreated fir. going to be lined in cedar on the inside. The only PT are the posts. We are going to treat it with danish oil probably.


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Interesting

I thought for about a minute of the PT pine, then I remembered i had a stack of logs sittin' beside a sawmill I own.

Self correcting problem, and I'd so like to build a raised garden.

Well it’s not because I know what I’m doing here... I’m just kinda wingin’ it... better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war I hear. It will more than likely in my mind always be a great source of cover rather than a garden!


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on February 07, 2018, 07:44:04 AM
better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war I hear.

Sounds quote worthy...

In some instances it might only be concealment.....
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 07, 2018, 04:32:04 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180207/ae1eecb99213c0cf11cc93570b7e9d2c.jpg)
Off to the races!


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on February 07, 2018, 05:26:27 PM
looks great! 
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 07, 2018, 06:52:48 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180207/8b5862e156ceb606965737f78fdeb4fa.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180207/18c3511808922a23e0b780f93be86778.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180207/bb4c233a13846bf7ff219455890c339d.jpg)
Ran out of screws! Day is done!


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: cudakidd53 on February 07, 2018, 08:48:09 PM
Other than apparently having the top rail level and contoured with the yards grade, is there a production/yield advantage to having it deeper at one area than others?
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 07, 2018, 09:13:00 PM
That would be a cross between an elephant and a rhino, aka a hellifiknow!!??

Lol! This is my first rodeo! I just hope the low end is deep enough. I know my mother in law grows some huge tomato plants in 12” deep pots, so I think it will be. I have also seen some very impressive marijuana plants in less dirt than my shallow end. So I’m just going off of some limited experience for sure. This is not my subject matter of expertise... more of an experiment. The more questions I get asked, the more I wish I had done a little bit of research first! LOL


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on February 08, 2018, 07:00:22 AM
the very high beds are more of a convenience and ease of harvesting.  Few plants need soil that deep.  He can grow the smaller plants in the shallow ends and bigger plants in the deep end.

Good job Blaine!  Can't wait to see the results.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 08, 2018, 09:10:28 AM
Got my shroom compost in!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180208/2cebb228c2294278ee863eb16e7babc2.jpg)
Don’t think I showed you guys the new tractor I got last spring.
Mahindra 2555
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180208/15acb9f016e8762f4786c5e96ce02074.jpg)


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Atkinsmatt on February 08, 2018, 09:20:18 AM
Great tractor.  I am on my second Mahindra.  The first was a 2816 and the one I have now is a 4540.  4WD w/front loader.  The only reason I switched up was the place I get hay got a new roller and made the bales to large for the 2816.  I had to upsize or drag them around as the front loader wouldn't lift the heavier rolls.
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 08, 2018, 10:47:43 AM
This is my second one. Had a 4035 before and it served me well. Upgraded to this 55hp unit so momma could have a bigger cutter.


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 08, 2018, 12:14:12 PM
Yea, good tractor

I have lost it for J-Deere. Even though that green paint can be scraped off and sold for more than the cost of gold, the tractor it covers is no better than the others out there.

But I own it now, so I'll keep and use it forever. (I think)
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 08, 2018, 06:48:35 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180208/52be6ddddcb84b67169eae925857780d.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180208/e3c9cc1a2317dd5a4de1b5c76e03980d.jpg)
Now just gotta add the dirt!


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: EL TATE on February 08, 2018, 07:00:37 PM
Planter boxes look great... what is that little critter running around there, a Welsh Shepherd? A German Corgi? please explain this mysterious creature
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Higher Caliber on February 08, 2018, 07:52:36 PM
Planter boxes look great... what is that little critter running around there, a Welsh Shepherd? A German Corgi? please explain this mysterious creature
That is some kind of Dachshund/Labrador abomination that showed up one day uninvited and never left. I call it “lil f’er”, kids call it Molly.


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 09, 2018, 09:19:46 AM
Very nice job!

Dog needs proper name
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on February 09, 2018, 05:46:54 PM
"Midget Mutt"
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: cudakidd53 on February 09, 2018, 06:05:52 PM
Romba - like the robot floor sweeper
Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: wyorunner on February 14, 2018, 12:45:58 PM
HC,

As TRN said there is no real need for deep boxes. Even tubers can grow in 6-10” of soil. Looks like you have that and more every where. Height is nice for putting seeds in and then harvesting, you don’t bend over as much.

I’ve done raised bed of differing varitions, but current is just a 4x8 that’s about 40” tall. We love it.

Brother of mine and master gardener in WY Has grown in boxes exclusively. Since their first boxes when they lived on post in pendelton. Now he has about 15 boxes and pots.


If your concerned about weeds, “cooking” the soil does help. Cover it in black plastic and let it sit for a month at about 90*. Tough to do I know, but it helps. Also kills viruses that may live in the soil and transfer from one plant to another, had that happen to a tomato plant last summer. Pulled the whole thing, and didn’t re plant. Going to here soon.

Think about what your going to plant where. Vining plants like cucumbers peas beans and even some tomatoes, can be grown on any kind of make shift trellis. Nice thing about wood boxes, they are easy to add too!

Great looking box, should do well!


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Title: Re: Raised veggie garden.
Post by: DOOLEY on May 16, 2018, 02:11:48 PM
SO HC HOWS THE RAISED BED GARDEN DOING?
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